Where you sit can change everything from a coaster’s speed to your view—and the front row isn’t always the best seat.

After riding Matterhorn Bobsleds, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Incredicoaster, and other Disneyland attractions countless times over the last three decades, I’ve learned there are good seats (and a few less-than-ideal seats) on nearly every Disneyland ride.

Where you sit can significantly change your experience, particularly on the roller coasters at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. The best seats on Disneyland rides depend on what you want: maximum speed, a smoother ride, a better view or the smallest possible splash.

I’ve tested nearly every possible row on the resort’s most popular rides, and the front isn’t always the winner. On some attractions, the back delivers more thrills; on others, the middle offers the clearest view. And on a famously rough ride like Matterhorn Bobsleds, your seat can determine just how comfortable the experience is.

Here are the best seats on popular Disneyland rides, based on more than three decades of visits and hundreds of rides.

Where Are the Best Seats on Disneyland’s Rides?

Disneyland and California Adventure are, obviously, very unique theme parks. But history aside, many of the attractions here defy typical roller coaster logic. 

On your average coaster, sitting in one of the last cars and rows of seats tends to deliver a faster, more extreme experience. However, on many Disneyland thrill rides, that’s not exactly the case. These thrill rides differ quite a bit – and on a splashy attraction like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, you’re not even thinking about speed.

So, where should you sit on rides to get the best, most exciting experience? Here’s what I’ve learned over the years (and many, many park visits).

The Best Seats on Popular Disneyland Park Rides

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Photo by Cliff Wang

Forget grabbing the front seats on this classic Disneyland coaster. You’ll want to sit in the last train car and one of the last rows for the fastest, most thrilling ride.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad tends to feel slowest in the front and fastest in the back. The front cars do the heavy lifting (literally), climbing the coaster’s lifts and picking up speed as the entire ride vehicle descends. The back cars, as a result, feel like they’re flying along the track.

Bonus tip: If you ride Big Thunder at night, odds are it’ll be even more thrilling. I’ve found that riding this coaster once it’s dark out makes it feel faster, which makes it a great option to close out your evening.

Indiana Jones Adventure

No matter where you wind up in your Jeep, Indiana Jones Adventure is a pretty bumpy, jerky ride that’ll have you bouncing around a bit. It’s not a high-speed thrill ride, but rather one made exciting thanks to the perils you encounter.

So, if you’re looking for the best seat, odds are it’s the one that’ll put you in direct line of sight of all of the dangers along the way. In that case, I recommend getting in the front row. You’ll have the best view and be able to see the entirety of the temple (and Indy and that boulder) with no obstructions.

Here’s a bonus: Sitting in the front means your odds of being the driver are higher. The driver’s seat offers the added perk of being very close to one of those frightening snakes, so if you like a scare, this is the best seat on the ride.

Matterhorn Bobsleds

If there’s one thrill ride locals love to complain about at Disneyland, it’s this one. That’s because the Matterhorn Bobsleds are a bit of a rough ride (though I personally don’t mind my visit to Disneyland’s resident chiropractor!). However, choose your seat – and track – carefully, and you can enjoy a smoother ride. 

If you’re looking for speed or a more thrilling ride, the Tomorrowland side of the mountain (AKA the left track) is the best choice. The left track tends to feel faster than the right, and I think it feels particularly fast in the dark. 

Want a smoother, less bumpy ride? Opt for the Fantasyland side (the right track), which has fewer jolts and abrupt drops.

In terms of specific seats, the ride experience does depend on your height. As a short person myself, I like sitting in the front. Taller riders, however, will want to choose any seat but the very front of the bobsled, as the farther-back seats tend to offer more legroom. 

Space Mountain

Photo by Jaysen White

Space Mountain is a classic coaster in more ways than one, and this Disneyland attraction does adhere to standard thrill ride logic. You’ll want to sit in the last car or the last row to feel the fastest, most thrilling experience.

However, there’s a catch here. While sitting in the last car or row is the fastest seat on Space Mountain, it’s not necessarily the best for every guest. If you’re someone who likes a more immersive ride experience, then you’re actually going to want to sit in the front.

The front row, or even one of the first two rows in the front car, tends to deliver the coolest experience when it comes to immersion. With nothing in front of you, it really does feel like you’re speeding through space; there’s just empty black “sky” ahead of you. 

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

You can have two different experiences on Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at Disneyland depending on where you sit. 

If you want to feel more motion and have a more thrilling, exaggerated (and a bit bumpier) ride, you’ll want to sit in the very back row. Don’t want as much movement? Aim for one of the front rows, where you’ll feel the motion slightly less.

Guests with motion sickness will want to stick with the front couple of rows, too. This is where the ride is more centered on the hydraulics, so while you’ll move, it will be a bit smoother and less jarring than if you were to sit in the back few rows.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

While you might assume whoever’s sitting in the very front of the log will take the brunt of the water spray from every drop, that’s not necessarily true. In my experience, the second row – not the first! – often winds up the wettest.

That’s because the ride is engineered to splash as many riders as possible. As a result, the big splash at the ride’s finale tends to go up high enough to completely miss whoever is in front… leaving the rider behind that person quite wet.

It’s worth noting, though, that your log’s seating configuration and guests’ overall weight do matter here. If you frontload the log with more weight, whoever sits in the front can wind up wetter.

The Best Seats on Popular Disney California Adventure Rides

Goofy’s Sky School

As a classic wild mouse-style coaster, Goofy’s Sky School uses ride vehicles that are smaller than your average roller coaster – only four people fit inside each one.

Because of this, the decision about where to sit, and which seat is the best one, doesn’t really matter. The cars on this coaster are small enough that it truly doesn’t make a difference. In fact, if you’ve ever ridden Goofy’s Sky School before, odds are you know just how cramped they can feel (especially for adults).

So, whether you sit in the front row or back, on either side of the ride vehicle, it ultimately won’t change your experience. 

Incredicoaster

California Adventure’s Incredicoaster is hugely popular with thrillseekers, and for good reason. It’s exciting no matter where you wind up sitting, thanks to its high speed, unique launch, and steep, steep drops. 

Determining the best seat here really depends on your preference. Do you want your ride on the Incredicoaster to feel as fast as possible? Or would you rather experience the thrill of seeing those sky-high drops and the empty track ahead of you?

If speed is your favorite feature, sit in the last car and the very last rows. That’s where the coaster will feel fastest, much like any typical roller coaster. However, if you like the thrill of heights, the sudden 0 to 55 miles per hour launch, or the hills, you’ll want to sit in the very first row.

Radiator Springs Racers

There isn’t much wiggle room when it comes to choosing the best seat on Radiator Springs Racers. Thanks to the ride vehicles’ car-like design, there’s a front seat and a back seat (and even a middle seat in both rows so three can ride across).

And these ride vehicles drive like, well, a car. As a result, you won’t notice any difference in speed perception, movement, or anything else. While you might have a slightly better view in the front seat, I believe any seat on this ride is a good one. After all, you’re in the race regardless of where you’re sitting!

Soarin’ (or Any Variants)

Photo by Danny Shuster

The best seat on Soarin’ is a hotly debated topic. Ultimately, your ideal spot depends on what bothers you more: seeing other guests’ dangling feet or sitting near the edge of the curved screen, where some landmarks can appear distorted.

In my opinion, the edges of the screen create the more distracting experience. I’d rather see a few feet above me than get a noticeably skewed perspective because I’m seated at the far end of a row. That makes the seats closest to the middle of the screen my top choice.

For the most centered view, request section B. Section B, row 1 provides a centered perspective without dangling feet overhead, making it arguably the best overall seat on Soarin’. Section B, row 2 places you closer to the vertical center of the screen, but you may see the feet of riders seated above you.

You really can’t go wrong with Section B, though. Any row in this middle section will provide a more balanced view than seats positioned near the screen’s outer edges.